Improvement in sealing cans and bottles



J. D. WILLOUGHBY.

Fruit Can.

No. 22,535. V Patented Jany 4, 1859.

r lNVE/VTCIR UNiTEn STATES JAMES D. \VILLOUGHBY, OF GARLISLE,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. M.

ALEXANDER, OF \YASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEALING CANS AND BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22,535, dated January 4, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J AMES D. \NILLOUGH- BY, of Oarlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stopples for Cans or Bottles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in stopping the necks of bottles or cans by means of compressed indiambber, as will be hereinafter described.

In the annexed drawing, M represents the body and N the neck of a can.

E and B represent two disks, either of metal or of wood,whicl1 are made to fit loosely in the neck of the can.

D represents a piece of india-ri'ibber, which is also disk-shaped, and which is made to fit snugly in the neck of the can between the two disks E and B.

F represents a screw, which passes through the centers of the disks and rubber, said screw at its lower extremity being secured to the disk E.

A represents a top piece which has a screw cut in it. Said top piece, passing over the screw F, serves to press the disk B down upon the rubber. This top piece is merely a narrow strip which runs across the top of the neck, the ends of which turn under in a hooked form, as is clearly shown. The neck of the can is surrounded at its top with a flange, j j represent two slots in this rim or flange. The hooked ends of the piece A pass through these slots, and when said piece is turned partially around these hooked ends catch under the rim or flange and preclude any possibility of the stopple coming out. I do not consider It is merely an addi- \Vhen the rubber is compressed between the two disks, its periphery presses tightly against the inside of the neck of the can and effectually prevents any air from either entering in or escaping from the can. At the same time the rubber presses the sides of the neck. It also presses against the screw, so that no air can pass in or out by the side of it.

The advantages of this stopple are; First, it is not expensive; second, it can be used by any one for stopping cans who knows how to turn a screw; third, the can maybe made pen fectly air-tight in a few moments of time witl1- out the use of wax or solder or anything of the kind; fourth, it may be removed at any time and again replaced as securely as it was in the first instance; fifth, it may be used from season to season without any expense additional to the first cost.

I do not confine myself to the precise number of parts herein employed, as I may dispense with the piece A by cutting a screw in the disk B. lower end of the screw F, permitting it to turn in the lower disk, and thus compress the rubber by turning the screw.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The arrangement of the disks B and E, screw F, and top C with the rubber D in such a manner that when the rubber is compressed its periphery will press tightly against theinsides of the can or bottle mouth, while its center presses against the rod or screw F, for the purpose of eiiectually excluding the air, as is herein fully described.

2. The subject of the first claim, in combination with the neck of the bottle or can as constructed, for the purposes herein set forth.

J. D. \VILLOUGHBY.

\Vitnesses:

F. G. CLAYTON, A. A. YEATMAN.

I may also put a knob on the 

